It was a good decision, based on good intel and Andy agreed it could yield fruit, given enough time.
They had a two-day window until Tucker and Kelly arrived, along with several others from Kyle’s SEAL Team 3, and that reunion was to be back at the stone-walled villa near Kandi and the Niger border they’d been taken to their first day here.
Sometimes drone footage would highlight something interesting they’d send a party to the next day, but no one was coming up with any actionable result, until the day they were supposed to leave for the rendezvous up North. A girl’s school in Benot had been attacked and two teachers and a half dozen girls were taken. From the way the attack occurred, Peterson, Sven and Dallas were convinced it was the same group.
“They came in with guns blazing, killing the local police who were moonlighting as guards at the school. Once the protectors were gone, they were able to grab at random,” said Peterson. “We’re to go looking for them.”
“What about Tucker and the others we’re supposed to meet?” asked Andy.
“I guess we’ll be late, then,” said Peterson. “This takes priority now. We’ll get up there as soon as we can.”
“Or, maybe a few of us could go up and bring them down to meet us here,” Sven added.
“Yeah, it doesn’t make much sense to have people who can help sitting on their hands,” said Dallas.
“Problem as I see it is, we can’t spare anybody.” Peterson’s jaw was set. He was about to make a big mistake and all three of the others knew it.
This was one of those times where an LPO earned his creds or lost the confidence of the team. Andy knew there were always dangers to every decision. Picking the right choice to navigate the best one was hard, but what a good leader had to learn to do.
“Look, why don’t Sven and I go up there and get them. We take one truck. Sven knows the road. We can get back down here quickly if we don’t hike like we did coming in.” Andy was hoping Peterson would buy it but could already see he was set against splitting the Team up any further.
“Not what I’d do. You’re gonna have to stick with me for a bit. We’ll get up there, and just a couple of days won’t make that much difference.”
Dallas spat on the ground but held his tongue.
Andy thought about the choice again, and what was about to be done, and decided to lay it on the line. He didn’t want to give Peterson a challenge to his authority, but he knew it was a mistake. Convinced Tucker and Kelly, as well as the others they brought would double their chances of a successful mission, he had to speak out.
“I’m going to ask you to consider something, sir.” Andy saw Peterson’s eyes go red with anger, and then settle down, as the fear factor started percolating.
“All right. Let’s hear it. But then I decide and that’s the end of it, agreed?”
Everyone nodded their heads.
“Sven and I are part of the Team, but newbies. We add an extra element to the mix. The guys haven’t worked with us much yet. You’ve already got a full squad. You’ve got Conley, several others speak French. You met with Mr. Sabi—it would be easy to add someone to that conversation. But, if we stay, and just say it doesn’t work out how we think it should, say we engage and it gets heavy, you think any of us would be able to send two out to get the rest of the team that, at that point, we’d sorely need? But, if we delay and you guys do general information gathering and not execute the spear until we have a full force, we’ll have better intel, and a whole lot more firepower. It’s just nuts to have them waiting up there.”
Silence took over the group. Dallas jumped in.
“Two more won’t be as effective as the seven we have on the way. Weakest link in that plan is, what happens if you or Sven get into trouble? Then we’re totally cut off, and the groups stay separated or go in blind.”
Andy nodded at the obvious flaw in his plan and got Sven’s attention. “What do you think?” he asked the Norwegian.
“I like it. Can we take one of the Gunnar’s guys? Part of his corps? Might give us legitimacy.”
“You’re gonna get that bastard to give up one of his men? What planet are you on, Sven?” Peterson was livid with that suggestion.
Sven coolly tilted his head and smiled. Andy knew he’d already thought about the solution.
“Well, we tell him that we’re going up to get Uncle Sam’s money, and his State Department liaison, who will be very grateful for his assistance and might make a serious donation to his cause. It could lighten his heavy financial burden, a bit.”
Dallas began to chuckle. Andy had a hard time keeping a straight face, so he looked at his boots.
“You son of a bitch. How do you know they’re bringing in cash?” Peterson demanded.
“Because that’s part of what Kelly does. And she’s got the backing of a billionaire, too. And I was in on the rescue of his daughter last year. He’d do just about anything to find these guys. If she doesn’t bring some in, she can get it quickly.”
It was a beautiful plan. Andy could see that Peterson was hesitant to make a decision.
“You know in your gut it’s the only way, sir. It risks only two of us, but damn if it doesn’t increase the odds by double. I’m willing to put my life on the line for it. Sven here is dumb enough to do anything.”
Dallas started to laugh.
Andy continued, “Besides, you can always say Sven talked you into it later, if you have to.”
“But I don’t want to have that conversation with the Headshed.”
“With all due respect, sir, I don’t know a good LPO who hasn’t,” grumbled Dallas.
Andy had been told stories about Kyle. “As legendary as Lansdowne is, there was a time in his career he thought he was going to be written up and stuck on a desk, or worse. It was a real rough patch, and it lasted months.”
“I heard about that,” whispered Dallas. “I think my brother was on the team when that went down.”
Sven put his arm on Peterson’s shoulder. “There are no safe choices, only good ones. You’re about to make a really good one, Peterson. And us three are going to help you carry it out. Put your trust in us.”
It started as a gentle nod of his head, but within seconds, Peterson was completely focused on saying yes. “Hell, let’s go for it.”
It wouldn’t have been appropriate to cheer, but Andy thought he heard one echoing out over the lush savannah grasslands of Benin, something he might have heard in any football stadium back home.
One of the things he’d been taught by SEALs who had gone before him was that it was a very good idea to make your LPO look damn smart, and that kudos and promotions always ran downward to the benefit of the men underneath. Not to mention, this was the Brotherhood. A team was supposed to cover all the aspects of a mission, making up for little weaknesses that would inevitably pop up. They were prepared to do the impossible. It was what their training was all about. It was what the Trident meant, after all. If the roles were reversed, and Andy was the LPO, they’d all do the same for him.
Chapter 17
Aimee took Sandy out for a run on Gulf Boulevard, eventually winding up at the nearby dog park. There, she was able to let her off the leash and let her run freely, playing with several others.
She checked her cell and returned a call to Mr. Kornblum.
“I’m afraid I have some bad news. Carmen passed away last night. It was very peaceful I’m told.”
Aimee’s nerve endings were stunted as this new bombshell scattered at her feet. She sat forward, clutching the phone to her ear so she could hear better.
“But she looked so—” It was hard to accept after only knowing her for such a short time. Her passing brought on a wave of regret. Although she’d been told this might happen, it wasn’t something she expected so soon.
“I know. I was a little surprised myself. But the doctors had been warning me all along this could happen. But, like you, I was not expecting it for perhaps weeks. So, now I have the task of administering her
trust, filing notices and distributing her assets according to her will. And that involves you, Aimee, as the sole beneficiary. Is it possible you could meet me in the office tomorrow, or sometime this week?”
“Gosh, everything is so rushed these days for me—changing so fast I can hardly keep track. I just met her, and now she’s gone. I’m being selfish, I know.”
“Not at all, Aimee. Perfectly normal. But I’m glad you acted when you did. Take your time, if you like. There isn’t any time requirement, but it’s always more prudent to do it sooner than later. Sometimes, in these cases, people start coming out of the woodwork, claiming they’re entitled to a piece of the estate. I have no such knowledge of anyone like that, but I never say never. However, the will is pretty bullet-proof, if I do say so myself.”
“Oh gosh. I didn’t think of that. Really?”
“Happens all the time. But that’s not your worry. It’s mine to protect. Just remember, this is what she wanted, Aimee.”
She gulped in air. “Okay, I could be there tomorrow if—” she looked at Sandy playing. She didn’t dare leave her in the house alone. It was too soon.
“If what?”
“I adopted a dog, and I’ve just picked her up today. Would it be possible for me to bring her with me? I don’t trust that she can be left in my house alone.”
“What kind of dog?”
“She’s big. Retriever mix. But well behaved. I don’t think she’d cause a problem.”
“I don’t see why not. I have clients with service dogs all the time. So, tomorrow, shall we say ten o’clock?”
Aimee knew she didn’t have to check her calendar. Several of her workmen were just coming back from visiting their families out of state, and no one had called her about coming back just yet. “I’ll be there.”
She ran with Sandy further down the boulevard, then reversed course and came back to her house. The dog was mildly distracted with the traffic, but overall, she did very well on her first day out. She nearly drained her water dish, so Aimee knew to be on the lookout for her first accident.
The mail came, and books she’d ordered arrived in their brown packaging. Two were Hank Borges books, dog-eared with covers curling up. She sat down bringing her coffee into the living room as Sandy jumped up on the leather couch, nestling beside her as if she’d grown up there.
“Do you like science fiction, Sandy? This man,” she held up the book, “used to write books in this very house. He probably wrote this one here. Should we look?”
Sandy’s ears were alert, waiting to listen to more of the story.
Opening the cover page, Aimee read the dedication.
This book is dedicated to C, who knows the outer space of my interior better than anyone else in this galaxy. There are epic travels we will take one day, and they will be glorious journeys of the heart. Just think what we can discover when we leave our temporal bodies and free ourselves into the Heavens.”
H—
Inside the back cover flap was the familiar black and white picture of Borges standing barefoot on the beach just like the one outside her living room window. She flipped back to the dedication page, and then turned through the list of his books and testimonials, looking for something about or for Carmen, but at last came to the title page, and then the start of the book.
The Prince of Scion.
‘It was the summer that would change his life forever. Just one trip to the green waters and yellow beaches of Scion, the mythical healing beach on the fourth planet of the Recovery Galaxy. He knew that all the energy he received from the ocean would help restore his wounds and make the upcoming battle his to own. He was conqueror of the worlds of Scion. But he’d been ousted.
Now was his chance to come back, with revenge, and this time, he’d win the war.’
Aimee continued reading the story until past the brightest part of the day, and then until the sun began to set. She patted Sandy on the head, and walked out on the beach, clutching Hank Borges’ book in her left hand. Checking back at her house, she saw Sandy sitting there just inside the window, watching like a sentry.
The crowds were smaller today, with the air crisp and colder than usual. The waves barely made a noise as they lapped upon the smooth wet sand surface. She waved to the fisherman who was out there every day sitting in his lawn chair, often drinking beers in the morning. She watched as a pod of dolphin swam by, heading south, taking turns breaching the waterline and then diving back in. There was hardly an audience to revel in their beauty.
She’d not been spending much time outside the last few days. The wedding and then Andy’s sudden departure made the past week feel like a marathon. They’d spent so much time planning everything, and then in a whoosh it was all over, and she was alone, like the first time she came to Sunset Beach. Then there was poor Carmen, and the bracelet that Logan had left for her. So much had happened there was not enough time to tell Andy about it all.
And now things were about to change again. She thought about Logan and what he was doing, even regretting that she’d filed the police report.
It seemed the whole world was pulling her in a direction not of her choosing. She started the walk, of course, faced the path, but forces unseen were guiding her deeper into the forest, away from former routines, the world she thought she knew so well.
Is this how a new bride feels?
Aimee knew that most brides didn’t have to say good-bye to their new husbands not even a week after the marriage. Maybe that’s what was causing all her confusion. Everything in her world had begun to shift. It almost felt like she didn’t have any control in the matter.
As the sun melted into the horizon, she said her little prayer for Andy, wishing he could feel the pull of the magic of this place, that golden tether bringing him back home safe to her. It would all be over soon, and then they’d be together once again, to jumpstart their future—until the next mission, of course.
Maybe in time this would begin to feel routine.
Aimee fed Sandy again, prepared herself some soup and then made sure everything downstairs was locked. Sandy followed her up the stairs where she jumped back up on the king-sized mattress and waited for her to shower and dress for bed.
She took the book with her, adjusted the pillows and with Sandy by her side, tried to finish the story. She fell away into a green oceans of Scion dream, wondering what was to become of the prince’s blue vampire second in command. Would he find a happily ever after, or was this not going to be a romance?
Sandy’s bark awakened Aimee around one o’clock AM. She clamored to her feet, grabbing her robe. Sandy was at the open doorway to the master, clearly barking at something downstairs. She stepped next to the dog, then came out onto the balcony overlooking the living room area and checking for movement and didn’t find anything of interest.
“What did you hear, girl?” she asked as she pet the top of her head. Sandy stood on all fours, wagging her tail, but didn’t appear to want to go downstairs.
“Should we try it?” Aimee called out, “Is there anyone there?” Her voice echoed throughout the great room. They both listened carefully. There was no answer.
Andy kept a baseball bat in the guest bedroom, which she passed on her way to the landing. She grabbed it, and with Sandy by her side, made her way silently down the stairs, barefoot and vigilant, her arm raised high, just in case.
As she approached the front entryway, Sandy whined, which made Aimee stop.
“Who’s there? Is there someone out there?”
Again, there was no answer. She pointed to the door and asked Sandy to go check it out. The dog ran right up to it, barked several times and sat looking at it, perfectly still, listening.
The hair on the back of her neck began to spike. She felt sweat running down her armpits and her mouth was chalky and parched.
“Who’s there?” she shouted and waited, hearing nothing. Aimee approached the door and put her ear to it. She heard nothing but the sounds of an occasional car on Gulf Boulev
ard. A bundle of leaves blew around outside in a sudden gust. The door was still locked. She glanced around the room, and after determining she was alone, reached for the door and turned the handle, unlocking it.
Sandy came to standing position, wagging her tail.
“Who is it, girl? Do you know who it is?”
She continued wagging her tail, anxious for her to open the door. And so she did.
The dog burst out into the carport several feet, stopped and sniffed the air. Aimee had followed her onto the stoop, but again, saw and heard nothing out of the ordinary. Afraid Sandy would run off, or find a cat to chase, she called to her, and both of them headed back toward the front door.
On the doorstep she stepped on something sharp. At first Aimee thought she’d cut her foot on a piece of glass, but when she looked down, there was a small, curled shell, not more than three inches long, and in perfect condition. She glanced over her shoulder at the carport area one last time, then followed Sandy through the doorway.
At the last minute, Aimee replaced the shell back on the mat where she’d found it and safely secured them both inside.
Chapter 18
Andy and Sven, along with their UN consort, left before nightfall so they could clear a good distance between them and the UNESCO project. It was assumed there was less hostile activity north, especially if they stayed away from the border with Nigeria, and the Niger River, but fingerlings and tributaries formed lakes and smaller rivers throughout the region. It was much faster to navigate these areas in the truck, plus they had the benefit of a heater, which was sometimes a luxury in these parts. Gunnar was a stickler on getting the best equipment possible. All of his four-door trucks were less than a year old, with full on satellite radio and air conditioning too.
The House At Sunset: SEALed At Sunset - The Beach Renovation (Sunset SEALs Book 5) Page 13